Intrinsic Causes – programmed normal aging process in the brain
The decline of various memory functions for many cognitive tasks is termed as age-related memory impairment (AMI) or age-associated memory impairment (AAMI). AMI or AAMI are not the same as brain diseases that severely impair memory function such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, Alzheimer’s disease.
- The hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with memory function, deteriorates with age.
- Biomolecules—growth factors, hormones and proteins that protect and repair brain cells and stimulate neural growth—decline with age.
- Decreased blood flow to the brain associated with aging
- Decreased efficient in absorbing brain-enhancing nutrients.
Extrinsic Causes – lifestyle factors
Lifestyle factors and other medical complications can accelerate the brain aging and exacerbate the age-related memory loss. Studies has found that people with healthy habits are at a reduced risk of memory complaints.
- substance use – alcohol, drug, tobacco
- medication – prescription and over-the-counter medications can interfere with or cause loss of memory (e.g.. antidepressants, antihistamines, anti-anxiety medications, muscle relaxants and etc.)
- stress and mental health (e.g. anxiety, emotional trauma, depression)
- diet and nutrition (e.g.. vitamin B1 and B12 deficiency)
- insomnia
- brain injury
- other medical condition
- thyroid problems
- infections and inflammation that affect the brain (e.g.. HIV, tuberculosis, and syphilis)
- condition that block or interfere with the oxygenated blood flow to the brain (stroke, vascular disorders), causing nerve cell damage)
Understanding the causes and mechanisms of age-related and lifestyle environmental-related memory loss will facilitates the strategies in preventing memory loss and sharpen the memory as we age. Although normal memory function aging is part of the brain aging process, however, significant or severe memory loss may not be an inevitable outcome because brain cells renews at any age. One way to promote the renewal of brain neuron cells is to use the brain frequently. By maintaining healthy stress free lifestyle habits – balanced diet, exercise (increase blood flow to the brain), lifelong learning, decline in memory function can be prevented and slowed.
